Crate.



M. O. DAVIS.

CRATE. APPLICATION FILED APR.1'5, 1909.

944,077. Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

lh I l m G- ma ma/ 511% aunnsw. a 0mm ca. momumocmwans. wnsmnm'ou o aTTED STATES EfkTENT OFFICE.

MORDECAI O. DAVIS, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOCLARENCE E. PEASLEE, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

CRATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Monnnoxr O. DAVIS,

citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St.Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Crates, of which the "following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in crates, and pertains moreparticularly to what are known as nesting crates.

The object of my invention is to provide a more simple, cheap andeffective crate whereby a number of baskets with their handles attachedmay be more readily crated for shipment in the smallest possible space.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective View of myimproved crate assembled without the baskets therein. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the crate filled with baskets ready for shipment.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the bed-pieces of thebase of the crate and upon which the lower row of baskets rest, and 3and t are cross-pieces securing the bed pieces together and thesecrosspieces are spaced a distance apart equal to the width of the baseof two baskets, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. These cross-pieces 3 and r,as shown prevent the baskets from moving sidewise from the bed or basepieces 1 and 2. The cross-pieces are provided with two eyes 5 and thebed or base pieces are each provided with a single eye 6.

The top of the crate is formed of two strips 7 and S, which are spacedat distance apart sul'licient to allow the handles 9 to pass between thesame. The cross-pieces 10 and 11 secure the strips 7 and 8 together andthese cross-pieces are spaced .1 distance apart equal to the width ofthe upper end of two baskets, as shown in Fig. 2. Vhile I have shown thecrate of a width equal to the width of two baskets, it will beunderstood that it can be made of different sizes, but it has to be madeof a size equal to an even number of baskets in order to have themproperly nestle together.

The lower row of baskets, as shown in Fig. 1, rests upon the bed-pieces1 and 2. The next row of baskets rests upon the lower row at rightangles to the lower row, that is one basket on each side of the handlesof the lower row. This as will be readily seen prevents the lower row ofbaskets from moving Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 15, 1909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1.909.

Serial No. 490,087.

longitudinally and thus each succeeding pair of baskets locks theprevious row in position. \Vhen the desired number of baskets are placedtogether, that is, there must be an uneven number of rows, the top ofthe crate is applied with the handles of the top row of basketsextending between the strips T and S and the cross-pieces 10 and 11extending along the sides of the upper row of baskets.

Secured within eyes 5 are wires 12, which extend upwardly over thecrosspieces 10 and 11 and clamp the top tightly upon the bottom row ofbaskets and are secured together as shown. Secured to the eyes (3 in thebed-pieces are wires 13, which extend up over the strips 10 and 11 andthese wires hold the wires 12 against outward movement upon thecross-pieces. The wires 13 extend between the baskets of the odd rowsand engage the sides of the baskets of the even rows whereby the basketsare held against movement by said wires and the interlocking ot' thehandles. By lengthening the wires it will be seen that the number ofbaskets can be readily increased, but as before stated, it is necessaryto leave an odd number of rows.

Having thus described my intention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A crate, comprising a bottom, a top having a slot adapted to allowthe handles of the baskets to pass therethrough and a flexibleconnection between the top and bottom and adapted to clamp the basketsbetween the same and engage the sides of the baskets.

2. A crate, comprising a bottom, a top having a slot adapted to allowthe handles of the baskets to pass therethrough, and a flexibleconnection between the top and bot tom and wires secured to the bottomand passing over the top and twisted together.

3. A crate comprising a bottom composed of bed plates and cross platesupon which the baskets are adapted to rest, said bed and top composed oftwo strips spaced a distance apart to allow the handle of the basket topass between the same, cross pieces connect ing the ends of the strips,wires secured to the bottom and extending over the strips and the crosspieces and twisted together and clamping the baskets between the top andbottom.

4. A crate, comprising a bottom composed of bed plates upon which thebasket rests, cross plates connecting the ends of the bed plates, a topcomposed of two strips spaced a distance apart to allow the handle ofthe basket to pass between the same, cross pieces connecting the ends ofthe strips and extending a distance on either side, wires se cured tothe cross plates of the bottom and extending over the cross pieces ofthe top on the outside of the strips and secured together and wiressecured to the bed plates and extending over the strips of the top onthe outside of the before mentioned wires.

5. A crate, comprising a bottom, a top having a central longitudinalopening to allow the handles of the baskets to pass therethrough, andWires secured to the bottom and extending over the top and hoistedtogether and clamping the baskets between the top and bottom.

6. A crate comprising a bottom, a top having a central longitudinalopening to allow the handles of the baskets to pass .therethrough, andwires secured to the botto pass between the same, cross-pieces con- Inecting the ends of the strips, and wires secured to the bottom andextending over the strips and the cross-pieces and twisted together andclamping the baskets between the top and bottom.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MORDECAI O. DAVIS. WVitnesses:

C. E. PEASLEE, J. S. HERRELL.

